Curfew and state of emergency remain in effect in flooded Oneida

Mon, 01 Jul 2013 17:04:12 GMT — Oneida remains in a state of emergency as the city begins to recover from devastating flooding last week. A curfew for 8:00 p.m. remains in effect for the area.Acting Deputy Mayor David Cimpia updated the public about the recovery efforts on Monday morning.Cimpia says the town is still in a state of emergency and residents shouldnâ??t go back to their homes.Suzanne Page says her house on Linden Street is underwater. She hasn't been allowed back inside since Friday."I heard screaming. People were screaming my name, Suzie get out, get out! I looked out of my dining room window and it was a roaring river coming towards my house," says Page.With heavy rains and a flash flood warning still in effect Monday, many people in Oneida are more worried about what lies ahead."My concern is the rain today. Is it going to happen all over again," says Page.James Lyons is also homeless now, but it's not stopping hom from spending his days volunteering at the Church on the Rock. He says helping people is helping him stay positive."I think we've seen the worst and things are going to get better hopefully," says Lyons.Pastor Amy Leahey says donations are pouring into the church."I expected the community to step up, but we are so blessed at this point. People's hearts are really pouring out right now," says Leahey.The church located at 119 East Railroad Street is taking all donations from food and water to toiletries and dumpsters. They ask that you separate your donations. The items they are in need of right now include mens' briefs, 5-tiered shelving units, women's socks, batteries, towels, and laundry soap.Over the weekend, Mayor A. Max Smith and Fire Chief Gregg Myers told the public that streets would be re-opened over the next few days. Some residents were allowed to return to their homes briefly to collect necessary items.The curfew has been in effect since Friday, which authorities say is to prevent looting and injuries.Gov. Andrew Cuomo issued a disaster declaration Friday afternoon for 15 counties, including Broome, Chenango, Herkimer, Madison, and Oneida. Madison County also declared a State of Emergency due to flooding across the county and in the City of Oneida.The Red Cross has established shelters at the Mohawk Valley Community College in Utica and at the YMCA in the City of Oneida. The shelters are providing cots, blankets, food and counseling. Volunteers and staff members from the Central New York and Mohawk Valley Red Cross chapters are running the shelters.The Red Cross says it will keep the shelters open until the people using them are allowed to return safely to their homes, or have made arrangements to live somewhere else.